8 HARE-HUNTING AND HARRIERS 



his hounds, and the management and arrangement 

 of his kennels, he attended himself. . . . He con- 

 ducted the chase himself ; leaving a man in the kennel 

 to prepare the food, who was in the capacity of earth- 

 stopper. His stud was small, four nags being the 

 greatest number he ever had in the stable ; employing 

 his favourite, Old Ball, three times in the week. Old Ball 

 was a real good English hunter, standing about fifteen 

 hands high, with black legs, short back, high in the 

 shoulders, large barrel, thin head, cropped ears, and 

 a white blaze down the face." 



These particulars were communicated to the writer 

 of the article in question by a Warwickshire man, who 

 had himself been entered to hunting by Somervile's 

 old huntsman, John Hoitt, who survived his master 

 more than half a century and died in 1802. William 

 Somervile lies, together with two of his huntsmen, 

 Jacob Boeter and John Hoitt, in Wootton Wawen 

 churchyard. Until the year 1898 no memorial of 

 him existed ; but in that year, thanks to the exer- 

 tions of the Rev. F. T. Bramston, Vicar of Wootton, 

 a tablet was subscribed for and erected inside the 

 church. On the tomb of his last huntsman may be 

 seen the following lines, composed by the Rev. J. 

 Eaches, a former vicar : 



" Here Hoitt, all his sports and labours past, 

 Joins his loved Master, Somervile, at last ; 

 Together went they, echoing fields to try, 

 Together now in silent dust they lie. 

 Servant and lord, when once we yield our breath. 

 Huntsman and poet, are alike to Death. 

 Life's motley drama calls for powers and men 

 Of different casts, to fill its changeful scene ; 

 But all the merit that we justly prize, 

 Not in the past but in the acting lies. 

 And as the lyre, so may the huntsman's horn 

 Fame's trumpet rival, and his name adorn." 



